Voter guide: Everything South Florida needs to know about voting in November

Elections admin October 5, 2026 0 Comments

Voter guide: Everything South Florida needs to know about voting in November

The midterm election has arrived in Florida, bringing with it clashes for governor, Congress and the state Legislature, consequential constitutional amendments and local races and referenda.

More than 1 million mail ballots have been sent out, and voters have until 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3, to get them to their local supervisor of election. Early voting is on the horizon, beginning Oct. 19.

Here’s a rundown of some key races to help voters prepare to go to the voting booth.

Key Races

The Miami Herald Editorial Board — a separate entity from the Herald newsroom — has made endorsements in a series of statewide and South Florida races. Check out their recommendations here.

Governor: Republican Congressman Byron Donalds is campaigning to become Florida’s first Black governor against David Jolly, a former U.S. representative and lobbyist who joined the Democratic Party last year shortly before launching his campaign. The two men agree on little, particularly Donald Trump. While Donalds is endorsed by the president, Jolly left the GOP after Trump’s rise.

Florida schools are at a tipping point. Donalds and Jolly have different visions
Where Donalds and Jolly stand on gun issues and post-Parkland safety laws
Fact Check: Where candidates Donalds and Jolly stand on data centers
Fact Check: Where Donalds and Jolly stand on transgender rights
Fact Check: Where candidates Donalds and Jolly stand on Flock cameras
Fact Check: Where candidates Donalds and Jolly stand on property insurance

US Senate: Incumbent Republican Sen. Ashley Moody has been in the job since last year, when Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed her to the position following Marco Rubio’s ascension to U.S. Secretary of State. Prior to that, she’d won two statewide races for attorney general. Her opponent is Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon, a progressive organizer endorsed by democratic socialist Senator Bernie Sanders. Nixon is campaigning to become Florida’s first Black senator.

Fact Check: Where candidates Ashley Moody and Angie Nixon stand on healthcare
Angie Nixon’s campaign runs through the labor, Civil Rights movements
Who is Angie Nixon, the Jacksonville DSA candidate challenging Ashley Moody?
How Ashley Moody’s deep roots shaped the future of Florida’s new U.S. senator

Attorney General: Republican incumbent James Uthmeier hit the ground running when DeSantis made him the state’s attorney general, replacing Moody. He faces a harsh critic in Jose Javier Rodriguez, a former state senator.

Rodriguez says it’s consumers vs corporations in campaign for FL attorney general
Uthmeier’s Democratic opponent demands preservation of Hope Florida records
‘Professor Uthmeier’: Inside Florida attorney general’s $100k teaching job at UF
They gave James Uthmeier’s campaign $25,000. Then his office stepped in to help
Florida’s attorney general seeks a halt to OpenAI development

Constitutional Amendments: There may not be a more consequential decision on the ballot this November than Amendment 3, which would significantly reduce property taxes for homeowners, eliminating them entirely for some property owners. The Florida Legislature put the question on the ballot at DeSantis’ urging in an effort to address the rising cost of living in the state. Local governments and agencies, though, warn the change would kneecap public services, including for hospital districts and public agencies that work to control mosquito populations and manage flooding.

What Florida voters need to know about constitutional amendments on the ballot
Property tax cut could cost Miami’s public hospital $64M. What it means for care
Fla. sheriffs warn of ‘train wreck’ tax-cut plan. Miami-Dade sheriff: Don’t be scared
How does Miami-Dade spend a dollar of your property taxes? We did the math

Congress: The Florida Legislature’s 11th-hour move to redraw the state’s congressional map positioned Republicans to pick up a few extra South Florida seats this fall, even in a down climate for the GOP. But polling suggests races for U.S. House of Representatives are competitive.

Trump blasts Miami Republican congresswoman on social media after campaign ad
Hispanic voters are frustrated with Trump. Can Florida Democrats capitalize?

READ MORE: Your city may have a local election this November. Here’s what to know

Key Dates

The primary election is held on Tuesday, Nov. 3, with polls opening at 7 a.m. and closing 7 p.m. to anyone not already in line to cast a ballot.

Mail voting is already underway. Vote-by-mail ballots must be in the possession of your local Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 to be considered valid. Late-arriving mail ballots will not be considered.

Early voting begins on Oct. 19 in Broward and counties and ends on Nov. 1.

Voters must have registered in Florida by Oct. 5 to participate in the primary election. The same deadline applies to switching political parties. You can register here.

The last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot is Oct. 22. You can request one here in Miami-Dade and here in Broward.